Good Morning,

Two things about the buying survey caught my eye:

1. "This year's materials budget averaged just $843,000." A quick review of the most recent state aid statistics would reveal that most public libraries would probably be quite satisfied if they had the ability to spend "just" $843,000 on materials. 

2. The percentage of materials budgets allocated to print now stands at 54%. Print book circulation continues to decline, to 55% of total, down from 63% five years ago. eBooks now make up just under 10% of total expenditures and total circulation in libraries, with "media" taking the rest.

If nothing else, perhaps a tiny bit of insight as to how closely your library's materials expenditures by % per category, as well as your library's circulation, aligns (or doesn't?) with that of other public libraries.

http://lj.libraryjournal.com/2018/02/collection-development/whats-hot-now-materials-survey-2018/

Jim

Jim Flury
Technical Services Manager
The Library Network
41365 Vincenti Court
Novi, MI 48375
248-536-3100 x133
Fax 248-536-3098
jflury@tln.lib.mi.us